Text 1315, 93 rader
Skriven 2005-09-02 23:32:56 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0509028) for Fri, 2005 Sep 2
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President Remarks on Hurricane Recovery Efforts
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 2, 2005

President Remarks on Hurricane Recovery Efforts
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
Kenner, Louisiana


˙˙˙˙˙In Focus: Hurricane Relief

5:01 P.M. CDT

THE PRESIDENT: The Governor and the Mayor of New Orleans, Senator Landrieu,
Senator Vitter and Congressman Jefferson, Congressman Jindal and General
Blum and I have just completed a tour of some devastated country. I started
in Alabama, and worked our way down through Mississippi, and ended up here
in one of America's great cities, and saw first-hand the devastation that
this city has gone through. I know the people of this part of the world are
suffering, and I want them to know that there's a flow of progress. We're
making progress. I want to thank the Governor for her hard work, and I want
to thank the Mayor.

I know that some of the folks in the outlying parishes here in Louisiana
are wondering whether or not people are paying attention to them. We are.
St. Charles, St. Bernard, Plaquemine Parish, I understand the devastation
that you've gone through as well. So does the Governor --

GOVERNOR BLANCO: St. Tammany.

THE PRESIDENT: St. Tammany. So does the Governor, and so are the senators.
This is a devastating storm. This is a storm that's going to require
immediate action now. I'm pleased to report, thanks to the good work of the
adjutant general from Louisiana, and troops that have been called in, that
the convention center is secure. One of the objectives that we had today
was to move in and secure that convention center, and make sure the good
folks there got food and water.

The caravans -- the bus caravans are continuing on, as is the airlift. The
people of this part of the world have got to understand -- and by the way,
we just came from the 17th Street levee. A lot of folks are working hard to
repair that levee. They've been working around the clock, 24 hours a day.
People from the federal government and the state government and the local
government are working to breach that -- to fill that breach. The Mayor has
been telling me, not only by telephone, but here in person, how important
it is that we get that breach filled and get that pump station up and
running. And we went there to inspect the progress being done, and the
people of New Orleans have got to understand there's a lot of people
working hard, and they're making good progress.

You know, I'm going to fly out of her in a minute, but I want you to know
that I'm not going to forget what I've seen. I understand the devastation
requires more than one day's attention. It's going to require the attention
of this country for a long period of time. This is a -- one of the worst
natural disasters we have faced, with national consequences. And therefore,
there will be a national response. And I look forward to continuing to work
with the governor and the mayor and the members of the Senate and the House
of Representatives to do our duty to help the good folks of this part of
the world get back on their feet.

Here's what I believe. I believe that the great city of New Orleans will
rise again and be a greater city of New Orleans. (Applause.) I believe the
town where I used to come from, Houston, Texas, to enjoy myself --
occasionally too much -- (laughter) -- will be that very same town, that it
will be a better place to come to. That's what I believe. I believe the
great state of Louisiana will get its feet back and become a vital
contributor to the country.

I believe the people of Mississippi will recover. I understand we got a lot
of work to do. And I understand it seems dark right now, but by working
together and pulling together and capturing that great spirit of our
country, a great city will rise again, a great state will be vibrant.

If you want to help, if you're listening to this broadcast, contribute cash
to the Salvation Army and the Red Cross. There will be other opportunities
to give, and we hope you do give. But right now, we need cash to the
Salvation Army and the Red Cross. They're on the front lines providing help
to the people who need help.

May God bless the people of this part of the world, and may God continue to
bless our country. Thank you very much. (Applause.)

END 5:06 P.M. CDT

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